SELECTED ART-SCIENCE CLASS PROJECTS
At the end of my Physics or Astronomy courses I ask students to integrate their science knowledge into a creative project. Here are examples of what Pratt student made:
Azure McBride took her astronomy home and created this amazing inspirational short film. I'm touched.
This video made by April Maxey for Astronomy is one of my all-time favorites. It provides a history of the discovery of dark matter starting from Edwin Hubble's discovery of the expansion of the universe. The video uses a humorous voice over cut-out animations. Watch with the link below, enjoy, and learn.
These earrings were created by a jewelry designer in on of my early Astronomy classes. They show the emission lines for hydrogen and helium, the two most abundant and most primordial elements. The student gave them to me after the class and I've worn them probably a hundred of times since then. They are elegant, educational and great conversation pieces.
Helen Hawaz discusses waves and brain waves and their effects, even on our emotions, in this informative video.
This photograph was part of Michael Riso's final project for Conceptual Physics in Spring 2013. Michael, who was a fashion major, played with the reflection and refraction of light and produced this gorgeous photo. He clearly demonstrated a knowledge of the behavior of light when he presented his project.
A song written and performed by Bill Schoenberg, about the Lagrangian points, positions in orbital configurations where a small object can maintain a stable position between the gravity of two large objects.
This is a masterpiece of metal work by Saul Schisler in Spring 2013 depicting the Hertsprung-Russel diagram, the plot of stars luminosity in terms of their temperature.
Dalitza Babilonia created this telling collection inspired by the different stages of our universe's evolution. Notice that she carefully selected the swatches as well. I'd love to wear these ...
In spring 2012 Logan Fitzpatrick created this coming to serve as an illustrated guide to the journey of the twin rovers sent to Mars. The comic will show the construction of the rovers, leaving the Earth’s atmosphere, the tricky landing on the surface of the planet, and the key discoveries that the rovers made.
Video created by Taisiya Zaretskaya for Astronomy Spring 2013 illustrates the scale of our solar system by taking viewer on a tour from the sun out past Pluto and other trans-neptunian objects to the Kuiper belt. It uses the time between the appearance of objects to relate the vastness of space. I generally discourage students from creating "yet another" solar system project, but this one does such a great job of illustrating the size in a new way that I consider it a highlight.
Danielle Ryan, a fashion major, created this dress for her final project for Spring 2012 Astronomy. As a freak for fashion, I appreciate projects that make a connection between fashion and science.
This is a video in which Stephen Mondics cooks up the cosmos with humor in his kitchen.